OK I don't know what my problem is, but I'm completely confused with the format we're going to use. I see lots of suggestions but I'm just not "getting" it - must be leftover food-hangover brain.

Length: 6 weeks(I think we're all pretty much in favor of a shorter timespan, right?)Points: still tracking? 10 possible per day?(I like the idea of tracking points since I need that gratification/accountability but I'm not a fan of winners vs losers. Mostly because I suck at sending things to the winners and I don't want to feel guilty for not getting around to it AGAIN)Daily goals: Mostly the same as before? I see not many people like the dairy/tea point. Should we have 5 "standard" goals and then each person gets to create the rest on their own, based on their personal goals?Weekly goals/WC: community or personal?

I like the 6 weeks, too. I get really competitive (with GINA!) so I like having points winners but I don't think there should be any prizes. I like 5 group goals and 5 personal goals. I also like Abs' ideas about the acts of kindness.

I kind of like the points too. And I love the postcards i recieved (best prize ever!) They are hung with pride on my refrigerator....watching me.... I love Abs suggestion. We really do need to make our world a better place. I like the idea that we CAN actauly make it a better place...just one act at a time. It's a beautiful thing.

If finding local postcards is too hard (took me 3 stores), maybe just find one that means something to you, or heck, print out something and glue it to a piece of cardboard. getting mail is like the best thing ever, imo.

I am kind of having a $hitty day so I will pop on that treadmill. Lisa, if you text me in the morning, I will get it late morning here which is perfect timing, but it doesn't have to be daily. and if someone wants to be my back up AC, I'm down with that. The more the merrier!

absolutelyvlc wrote:I just downloaded an app called Lose It!. I tried My Fitness Pal last year and ended up uninstalling it cuz it was kinda sterile and boring and not motivational at all IMO. I'm hoping Lose It! is better.Is anybody here using Lose It! that we can friend each other? Or is anyone interested in joining a group on it if I start one and invite you via email ?

Lisa- Yay for a great birthday weekend! And YAAAAAY for Bike Bragging Days!! Triple Yaaay for a supportive yet firm DH

Kel- I’m stoked for your new entertainment website- thanks for doing this

Amy- Yay for concert tickets and yay for spending fun time with DD. I don’t know Marcus, but I’m sure he wants fans who support him and value his artistic vision, and doesn’t give a flying fuck about the size of their bottoms. I saw on the Twittah that you got on the treadmill today- woohoo!

My 2 cents regarding the new Challenge:I personally prefer the long Challenges, but will totally be on board with a 6 week one if that’s what we decide. I love the idea of random acts of kindness- great idea, Abs! I like tracking points because it helps keep me accountable, but I don’t care about winning. OK, who am I kidding- I love winning!! I also like getting stuff in the mail, but understand the pressure that puts on us. I’m good with not having a formal AP, but will continue to pester those of you whose phone numbers I have Here are the original goals:• Sleep 7 hrs/per night• Drink 64 oz. water• Exercise 20 minutes• Be ready by 11am• 3 servings fruit/2 servings vegetables• No more than 2 small treats/day (200 cal ea)• Take 20 minutes for yourself• Glass of milk/decaf tea (natural sweetener)• Finish eating by 10 pm• Wild CardThe only ones that are challenging for me are: water, exercise (weekends), fruit/veg, and treats. For the most part, my personal challenges that I would like to incorporate are weekly ones, not daily or monthly. Things I need to work on: paying bills weekly, checking bank account weekly, reducing my financial outflow, appropriate portion sizes, being a better teacher in my classes, um and some other stuff.

Oh yes, can we incorporate something with appropriate portion sizing. This is challenging for me. A "balanced" meal should be (roughly) 1/2 the plate veg/fruit, 1/4 of your plate protein, and 1/4 (good) carbs. Maybe we can add something like "make atl east one meal a day "balanced"" ?

And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mould a new reality"My friends, love is better than anger, hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

i really like the Lose It app (you can do it from your computer too and sync it with your phone). I came in with 1 whole calorie to spare yesterday. I told it I wanted to lose 25 pounds (although 50 is more like it) and it set up a program for me to lose one pound a week and to reach my goal by july 4th. I may have to up my weekly loss to 2 pounds a week because I was hoping to reach my goal by June 1.

I know we haven't officially started but I did exercise yesterday and plan to today. I walked an hour on the treadmill at a 2.5 incline. I felt good about myself....and that hasn't happened in awhile.

amynkansas wrote:i really like the Lose It app (you can do it from your computer too and sync it with your phone). I came in with 1 whole calorie to spare yesterday. I told it I wanted to lose 25 pounds (although 50 is more like it) and it set up a program for me to lose one pound a week and to reach my goal by july 4th. I may have to up my weekly loss to 2 pounds a week because I was hoping to reach my goal by June 1.

I know we haven't officially started but I did exercise yesterday and plan to today. I walked an hour on the treadmill at a 2.5 incline. I felt good about myself....and that hasn't happened in awhile.

Yay Amy great job!!

to see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower; hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour ~william blakewithout music life would be a mistake ~nietzsche

I'm fine going back to the old list of challenges. I have to say, though, the 'be ready by 11am' challenge doesn’t make sense to me, what's so healthy about that? Agreed on adding a challenge related to portion sizes!What will we do to earn Wild Card points?

BTW, I thought I'd seen everything when I saw the 50 ways to cook chicken book. Then I saw this, showing at a theatre near me next week...

Muffinmom wrote:I'm fine going back to the old list of challenges. I have to say, though, the 'be ready by 11am' challenge doesn’t make sense to me, what's so healthy about that? Agreed on adding a challenge related to portion sizes!What will we do to earn Wild Card points?

BTW, I thought I'd seen everything when I saw the 50 ways to cook chicken book. Then I saw this, showing at a theatre near me next week...

I am not sure the be ready by 11 is a physically healthy thing but it does make sure that some of us (me) get their ass in gear and do something productive....but I am okay if we change that to something else...suggestions?

i am so sleepy right now. like if i could just lay down for a minutes I would fall asleep. and i got a good nights sleep last night. then took a morning nap after my kid went to school. I wish i could figure out why i want to sleep so much. I know what I should do it get on the treadmill but it is THE LAST thing i feel up to doing right now.

“I know that it’s important to remain active no matter what. I think we take that for granted when we’re younger, but when we get a little older you have to make plans to move.

“I’m quite an active person, but sometimes I’m in towns where you don’t have a place to move, so it’s easy to think, ‘Forget it.’ I know you can never do that. You can walk miles around any city. You can walk hundreds of miles, and it keeps you healthy and feeling great.

“So, get out of your car. You don’t have to make a big gym plan. Just focus on the natural burning of calories through walking. I also like to cycle because I love the subculture of bikes. I run.

“I’m pretty much a stranger to the gym. I don’t like working out in a gym. It’s not my thing.

“But I do like the feeling I have from moving, so I take any little bit of time. Let’s say I just have 20 extra minutes. That’s the perfect time for a bike ride or a walk. It becomes an adventure if you do this outdoors. Who knows what you’ll see or who you will meet.

“I don’t like to walk or cycle in my house watching TV. I tell other people to get out there.

amynkansas wrote:I am not sure the be ready by 11 is a physically healthy thing but it does make sure that some of us (me) get their ass in gear and do something productive....but I am okay if we change that to something else...suggestions

How about floss your teeth ? Another great suggestion from Seattle

And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mould a new reality"My friends, love is better than anger, hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

“I know that it’s important to remain active no matter what. I think we take that for granted when we’re younger, but when we get a little older you have to make plans to move.

“I’m quite an active person, but sometimes I’m in towns where you don’t have a place to move, so it’s easy to think, ‘Forget it.’ I know you can never do that. You can walk miles around any city. You can walk hundreds of miles, and it keeps you healthy and feeling great.

“So, get out of your car. You don’t have to make a big gym plan. Just focus on the natural burning of calories through walking. I also like to cycle because I love the subculture of bikes. I run.

“I’m pretty much a stranger to the gym. I don’t like working out in a gym. It’s not my thing.

“But I do like the feeling I have from moving, so I take any little bit of time. Let’s say I just have 20 extra minutes. That’s the perfect time for a bike ride or a walk. It becomes an adventure if you do this outdoors. Who knows what you’ll see or who you will meet.

“I don’t like to walk or cycle in my house watching TV. I tell other people to get out there.

“Life should be an adventure.”

I.LOVE.THIS!

And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mould a new reality"My friends, love is better than anger, hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

“I know that it’s important to remain active no matter what. I think we take that for granted when we’re younger, but when we get a little older you have to make plans to move.

“I’m quite an active person, but sometimes I’m in towns where you don’t have a place to move, so it’s easy to think, ‘Forget it.’ I know you can never do that. You can walk miles around any city. You can walk hundreds of miles, and it keeps you healthy and feeling great.

“So, get out of your car. You don’t have to make a big gym plan. Just focus on the natural burning of calories through walking. I also like to cycle because I love the subculture of bikes. I run.

“I’m pretty much a stranger to the gym. I don’t like working out in a gym. It’s not my thing.

“But I do like the feeling I have from moving, so I take any little bit of time. Let’s say I just have 20 extra minutes. That’s the perfect time for a bike ride or a walk. It becomes an adventure if you do this outdoors. Who knows what you’ll see or who you will meet.

“I don’t like to walk or cycle in my house watching TV. I tell other people to get out there.

amynkansas wrote:DD and I both don't want to work out...but we made a deal that she would walk for 30 minutes if I would do the same after she was done. I hate her...but not really.

What's made you lose your loving feeling......for exercise? What happened to my beautiful wogger? (I hang my head in shame as I didn't even WALK the Turkey Trot!) Aren't you excited to run again this summer--what was that color 5k thingy you were in? Summer's coming, Love, and you WILL run again this summer, right? I hope your DD walks THIRTY FIVE MINUTES so you'll have to do the same. <insert evil cackle here>

Muffinmom wrote:I'm fine going back to the old list of challenges. I have to say, though, the 'be ready by 11am' challenge doesn’t make sense to me, what's so healthy about that? Agreed on adding a challenge related to portion sizes!What will we do to earn Wild Card points?

BTW, I thought I'd seen everything when I saw the 50 ways to cook chicken book. Then I saw this, showing at a theatre near me next week...

I am not sure the be ready by 11 is a physically healthy thing but it does make sure that some of us (me) get their ass in gear and do something productive....but I am okay if we change that to something else...suggestions?

Um...so that musical thing is a REAL THING? I have no words...

eegads! The worse part of reading MotU for me was reading Bella's silly, ridiculous, cringe-worthy inner monologue. I know a lot of people liked it but I just couldn't imagine book-Bella or KStew doing this. (then again, I also couldn't imagine Edward as a sadist towards Bella, but I digress.) So the idea of seeing this as a musical gives me the heeby-jeebies. Are there 2 or 3 singers, like a vapid Greek chorus following AnaBella around onstage and singing out her inner goddess/inner retard. ( <----------sorry, I know that is horribly insensitive and non-PC and I need to find a better word than that.)

I would pay NOT to see this musical. On the other hand, I am an Ian-whore so if Damon Salvatore lands the part of Ed-stian, I will probably pony up and go see the movie. HYPOCRITE! I know! But I am dickmatized by him. (which FF author coined that? I can't remember.)

my husband bleieves all things on the internet and swears that Emma Watson is in talks to be Ana 'holy crap" Steele. I told him that she wouldn't do it if her life depended on it but he refuses to believe me.

amynkansas wrote:my husband bleieves all things on the internet and swears that Emma Watson is in talks to be Ana 'holy crap" Steele. I told him that she wouldn't do it if her life depended on it but he refuses to believe me.

Here's a palette cleanser for you Muffin

My half-asleep brain read this three times as "here's a palette to cleanse your muffin"

I'm still on page three of MOtU - ok 50 Shades, whatever, same crap. And that's what my pallet thinks it is - crap. Cannot.get.into.it! Need.something.good.to.read!!

And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mould a new reality"My friends, love is better than anger, hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."

amynkansas wrote:I am not sure the be ready by 11 is a physically healthy thing but it does make sure that some of us (me) get their ass in gear and do something productive....but I am okay if we change that to something else...suggestions

How about floss your teeth ? Another great suggestion from Seattle

Ohh I know I need to floss more and they say it's directly related to heart health (although I can't really figure that one out)

absolutelyvlc wrote:I'm still on page three of MOtU - ok 50 Shades, whatever, same crap. And that's what my pallet thinks it is - crap. Cannot.get.into.it! Need.something.good.to.read!!

Yep, it's crap. I've been hearing EVERYWHERE - in this forum and on the Internet - about "Gone Girl." Amy, didn't you rec that at some point? Anyway, that's my next fiction read. Currently I'm halfway through "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts - picked it up somewhere really cheap because I ADORE that movie. They apparently stayed really close to the source material for the movie so I'm very much enjoying the book.

to see the world in a grain of sand and heaven in a wildflower; hold infinity in the palm of your hand and eternity in an hour ~william blakewithout music life would be a mistake ~nietzsche

absolutelyvlc wrote:I'm still on page three of MOtU - ok 50 Shades, whatever, same crap. And that's what my pallet thinks it is - crap. Cannot.get.into.it! Need.something.good.to.read!!

Yep, it's crap. I've been hearing EVERYWHERE - in this forum and on the Internet - about "Gone Girl." Amy, didn't you rec that at some point? Anyway, that's my next fiction read. Currently I'm halfway through "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts - picked it up somewhere really cheap because I ADORE that movie. They apparently stayed really close to the source material for the movie so I'm very much enjoying the book.

I have never heard of this Gone Girl before y'all started posting about it in the other thread.

I've just finished reading the first two Hangman's Daughter books and I'm on the fourth Charley Davidson book and I have enjoyed all of them. Not very thinky, but not too fluffy either and the Charley Davidson books (First Grave on the Right, Second Grave on the Left, etc) are pretty funny to boot.

absolutelyvlc wrote:I'm still on page three of MOtU - ok 50 Shades, whatever, same crap. And that's what my pallet thinks it is - crap. Cannot.get.into.it! Need.something.good.to.read!!

Yep, it's crap. I've been hearing EVERYWHERE - in this forum and on the Internet - about "Gone Girl." Amy, didn't you rec that at some point? Anyway, that's my next fiction read. Currently I'm halfway through "Where the Heart Is" by Billie Letts - picked it up somewhere really cheap because I ADORE that movie. They apparently stayed really close to the source material for the movie so I'm very much enjoying the book.

I have never heard of this Gone Girl before y'all started posting about it in the other thread.

I loved Gone Girland check out my Goodreads to see the books I rated 4's and 5's.I;m currently listening to Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk. Only on Chapter 4 but it hasn't started happening for me yet. Hope it picks up soon. I am also reading Crewel by Gennifer Albin. She lives in my city and her kid goes to my kid's school. It has gotten good reviews. It is another distopian story. I am only on page 14 so I have no opinion yet.

After these 2 books are finished I plan on reading a FF and then back to a "real" book. I just need something romantic and angsty with a HEA.

I've had the hiccups for about half an hour - so that my abs and my shoulder area is kinda hurting. Does this count as exercise

And the men who hold high places must be the ones to start to mould a new reality"My friends, love is better than anger, hope is better than fear. Optimism is better than despair. So let us be loving, hopeful and optimistic. And we’ll change the world."